Personal audio recorder in a vehicular entertainment sound system

ABSTRACT

A method of recording a plurality of audio signals associated with an entertainment sound system ( 42 ) of an automotive vehicle ( 12 ) includes an audio input ( 20 ). A plurality of audio signals ( 18 ) is transmitted from the audio input ( 20 ) to a controller ( 24 ) within the automotive vehicle ( 12 ). A preferred plurality of audio signals ( 36 ) is acoustically played on the entertainment sound system ( 42 ). A recorder ( 28 ) is actuated to record the preferred plurality of audio signals ( 34 ) onto an electronic medium ( 30 ) within the vehicle ( 42 ). Consequently, the preferred plurality of audio signals ( 34 ) is recorded onto the electronic medium ( 30 ). An acoustical transmission of the preferred plurality of audio signals ( 34 ) received from said audio input ( 20 ) is halted at a halting point. Finally, the acoustical transmission is resumed from the electronic medium ( 30 ), from the halting point simultaneously as the plurality of audio signals ( 18 ) continues being recorded.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to U.S. application entitled“Personal Audio Recorder In A Vehicular Entertainment Sound System UsingRecommended Audio Signals”, that is simultaneously filed herewith andthe disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to a vehicular entertainmentsound system (VESS), and more specifically, to a method for selectivelyrecording and playing back a plurality of audio sources in a VESS.

2. Background Art

The automotive vehicle has become a venue where many individuals listento news, traffic, and entertainment programs. By its very nature, theability to listen to a desired program in a vehicle is significantlylimited. For example, the length of time an individual spends in avehicle rarely coincides with the duration of the program listened to bythat person. Further, many times the desired program may not even bebroadcasted during the time period an individual is in the vehicle. As aresult, the individual is frequently prevented from listening to adesired program in its entirety.

There are many situations in which an occupant cannot listen to anentire audio program. A driver may be required to lower the volume ofthe VESS for short periods of time to allow him to focus on his driving.Typical situations demanding such action include occasions whenunfavorable road conditions exist or when the driver must concentrate onthe directions in which he should be driving. Other circumstancesrequiring the volume to be significantly lowered are when an occupant ofthe vehicle wishes to engage in a conversation with another person. Forwhatever reason the volume must be lowered, the individual is preventedfrom listening to a complete audio program in the vehicle. Such anadverse result is undesirable.

Currently, there exists a radio tape recorder for use in associationwith a VESS. This device allows a user to record radio broadcastsreceived by the VESS onto an audiocassette tape. Unfortunately, therecorder fails to provide the listener with a time-delayed version ofthe program being recorded while such program is being concurrentlybroadcasted. Accordingly, an individual who misses a portion of aprogram presently being recorded cannot listen to such portion and theremainder of the broadcast until the entire program has been recordedonto the audiocassette tape. Further, in comparison to RAM or hard diskdrive as a medium, audiocassette tapes provide inferior sound qualityand are subject to a shorter life span. The radio tape recorder alsofails to independently provide users with audio programs that may appealto the user. This device only records audio programs at the very momentthe user activates it.

An automobile radio recording system has been introduced that permits auser to continuously record the contents of a radio program ontoelectronic media and then transfer such contents onto an audiocassettetape or compact disk. Unfortunately, similar to the previous device theautomobile recorder fails to provide the listener with a time-delayedversion of the program being recorded as long as such program is beingsimultaneously broadcasted. It also fails to independently provide theuser with desired audio programs without the user's immediate activationof the device.

A programmable radio has been introduced that allows for the selectiverecording of desired broadcasts. The device has voice recognitionsoftware that initiates recording of the broadcast when certain words orphrases are identified by the software. However, similar to the previousdevices, the programmable radio is not an ondemand system that allowsthe user to delay a broadcast for an arbitrary period of time.

A recovery recorder system for audio and video programs continuouslyrecords a brief span of a broadcast onto a short-term memory medium. Ifin viewing or listening to the program the user decides that he wouldlike a copy of the program, a control logic command is executed thatcauses the material on the short-term storage medium to be transferredto a long-term storage medium. Consequently, a user has a copy of theentire broadcast even though he actuates the system after a portion ofthe program has already been broadcasted. Unfortunately, this systemfails to allow the user to effectively pause the live radio broadcastand then immediately resume playing such broadcast from the same pointas long as the program is being simultaneously broadcasted. This devicealso fails to independently record audio programs appealing to the userwithout the user's specific identification of such programs.

Digital recorders for television allow users to pause a televisionprogram being broadcasted and to subsequently resume playing the programfrom the same point. Unfortunately, this device does not provide anybenefit to occupants of automobiles who wish to time-delay a broadcastedradio program. Also, the digital recorder has no feature to record anaudio-only program.

In the context of the Internet and personal computers, technology existsfor time-delay of radio broadcasts. However, this technology does notapply to FM, AM, or satellite broadcasts. Therefore, this technologyfalls short of helping an individual who wishes to listen to particularprograms on his VESS.

There is a need to provide vehicular occupants with audio programssuited to their taste and at times when they demand such programs.Therefore, there is a need for a method of selectively recording aplurality of audio sources for a VESS.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention provides a system that effectively pauses a liveradio broadcast for a selected time period in a VESS. The invention alsoallows selective recording of audio signals congruent to previous audiosignals listened to by the user. Further, the invention allows selectiverecording of audio signals identified by the user.

In carrying out the present invention, a method and system are providedfor recording a plurality of audio signals in a VESS. The method andsystem provide the user with a selective plurality of desired audiosignals upon his demand.

There is disclosed herein a method of recording a plurality of audiosignals associated with a VESS. The method includes an audio inputassociated with an automotive vehicle. The plurality of audio signals istransmitted through the audio input to a controller within theautomotive vehicle. A preferred plurality of audio signals isacoustically played on the VESS. A recorder is then actuated to recordthe preferred plurality of audio signals onto an electronic mediumwithin the vehicle. The preferred plurality of audio signals is recordedfor a recording time period onto the electronic medium within thevehicle. The controller suspends acoustical play of the preferredplurality of audio signals received from the audio input. Thissuspension begins at a halting point, at which time the recorder alsobegins to record the audio signals. Finally, the acoustical play isresumed from the halting point concurrently as the plurality of audiosignals is being recorded. The acoustical play is resumed from theelectronic medium within the vehicle.

In a further aspect of this invention, a control system associated withan automotive vehicle includes a controller that receives audio signalsand data corresponding to the audio programs so as to compile a userprofile. The controller then employs the user profile as a point ofcomparison for subsequently received audio programs and theiraccompanying data. If the data of the subsequently received audioprogram is congruent with the user profile, the controller actuates arecorder to record the audio program for the user.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, the control systemassociated with the automotive vehicle includes a controller thatactuates a recorder to record an audio program upon detecting aprogrammable recording signal. In operation, the user enables therecording by selecting a programmable recording signal associated withthe audio program he wishes to record.

One advantage of the invention is that a user may pause the acousticaltransmission of a live radio broadcast in a VESS at an arbitrary pointfor an arbitrary period of time and then subsequently resume thebroadcast from the same point. Another advantage of the invention isthat a user may have access to a wide selection of audio programs suitedto his personal taste and needs.

Other advantages of the present invention will become apparent uponreading the following detailed description and appended claims, and uponreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference shouldnow be had to the embodiments illustrated in greater detail in theaccompanying drawings and described below by way of examples of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a personal audio recording systemassociated with an automotive vehicle according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a flow chart depicting a method oftime-delaying an acoustical transmission of a preferred plurality ofaudio signals in an automotive vehicle according to one embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart depicting a method of providing a recommendedplurality of audio signals within an automotive vehicle according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, a personal audio recording system 10 associatedwith an automotive vehicle 12 is illustrated. In a preferred embodimentof the present invention, the personal audio recording system 10includes a central server 14 for processing a plurality of data 16related to a plurality of audio signals 18.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the personal audiorecording system 10 further includes an audio input 20 and a data input22 each associated with the automotive vehicle 12.

The audio input 20 transmits the plurality of audio signals 18 to acontroller 24 disposed within the automotive vehicle 12. As is widelyknown in the art, the plurality of audio signals 18 may be acousticallyplayed on a conventional radio for a user to hear. A typical audio input20 may include at least one of a radio antenna, a radio tuner, a compactdisk player, a digital video disk player, a satellite radio receiver, acellular phone, a telematics unit, and a microphone. Obviously, thespecific type of audio input 20 used may vary as the invention requires.

The data input 22 typically receives the plurality of data 16 from thecentral server 14 and then transmits the plurality of data 16 to thecontroller 24. The plurality of data 16 preferably includes at least oneof a program schedule, a program description, a recommendation, and apreference vector related to the plurality of audio signals 18. Typicaldata inputs 22 may be at least one of a cellular phone, a packet-basednetwork, a data radio antenna and tuner, a short range connection, avirtual floating network, and a removable medium. Of course, thespecific type of data input 20 may vary as well, should circumstancesrequire it.

A personal audio recorder 28 within an automotive vehicle 12 preferablyincludes the controller 24, a recorder 28, an electronic medium 30, anda user interface 32. The controller 24 receives the plurality of audiosignals 18 from the audio input 20 and the plurality of data 16 from thedata input 22.

Upon actuation by a user, the controller 24 encodes a preferredplurality of audio signals 34 and commands the recorder 28 to record thepreferred plurality of audio signals 34 and its corresponding preferredplurality of data 36 onto the electronic medium 30. Preferable forms ofthe electronic medium 30 include a flash memory chip, a dynamic RAM, anda hard disk drive. Upon further actuation by the user, the controller 24may then decode the preferred plurality of audio signals 34 and retrievethem from the electronic medium 30. The personal audio recorder 28 mayalso employ the user interface 32 for receiving manual feedback 38 froman occupant of the vehicle. Such manual feedback 38 is discussed ingreater detail in the description for FIG. 3.

The controller 24 selectively transmits the preferred plurality of audiosignals 34 and a recommended plurality of audio signals 40 to the VESS42. The VESS 42 includes various conventional automobile stereocomponents. These components may include, but are not limited to,recorders, compact disk players, audiocassette players, MP3 players,speakers, radio tuners, volume controls, and tone controls. Further, theVESS 42 serves as an audio output for providing the desired audioprogram to the listener in the format he so desires. Most typically, theVESS 42 uses speakers to acoustically play the preferred plurality ofaudio signals 34 for the user's listening pleasure. In other situations,the VESS 42 may record the preferred plurality of audio signals 34 ontoremovable media by way of a VESS component. These are only a fewexamples of the different means a user may benefit from the audiooutput.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, a flow chart illustrates a method oftime-delaying an acoustical transmission of a preferred plurality ofaudio signals 34 in an automotive vehicle 12 according to one embodimentof the present invention. In operation, the method of the presentinvention is initiated at step 44 and then immediately proceeds to step46. In step 46, the controller 24 receives a plurality of audio signals18 from an audio input 20. For example, the controller 24 may receiveradio broadcast signals from a radio antenna and a radio tunerassociated with the vehicle 12. Obviously, other forms of audio input 20may be used, as the invention requires. Having performed step 46, thesequence proceeds to step 48.

In step 48, the user selects a preferred plurality of audio signals 34of the plurality of audio signals 18 received from the audio input 20.For example, the user may select a specific radio program to beacoustically played on the VESS 42. The user may do so by simplychoosing a frequency on a radio tuner. The preferred plurality of audiosignals 34 is then transmitted from the controller 24 to the VESS 42 forthe next operation in step 50.

In step 50, the VESS 42 acoustically plays the preferred plurality ofaudio signals 34. A component of the VESS 42, such as speakers, receivesthese signals 18 from the controller 24. Then, the sequence proceeds tostep 52.

In step 52, the controller 24 determines whether the user has requesteda time-delay in the acoustical transmission of the preferred pluralityof audio signals 34 within the automotive vehicle 12. As one skilled inthe art would understand, there are various ways of actuating such arequest. For example, the user may simply press a button thereby closingan electric circuit with the controller 24 and consequently promptingthe controller 24 for the time-delay. Alternatively, the user may speaka command word received by a controller 24 having voice recognitioncapability. Actuating the request can be accomplished in many differentways.

If in step 52 the controller 24 determines that no request has beenmade, then the sequence returns to step 46. However, if the controller24 determines otherwise, then the sequence proceeds to step 54.

In step 54, the controller 24 determines whether the request for thetime-delay is the first of such request since power up of the system. Ifthe controller determines that the user has requested a time-delay forthe first time since power up of the system, then the sequence proceedsto step 56.

In step 56, the controller 24 actuates the VESS 42 to stop acousticallyplaying the preferred plurality of audio signals 34 at a halting point.For example, the controller 24 may accomplish this step by endingtransmission of the signals 34 to the VESS 42. Further, as the VESS 42ceases to acoustically play the preferred plurality of signals 34, thecontroller 24 simultaneously begins to encode the signals 34 as they arereceived from the audio input 20 according to the preferred embodimentof the present invention. The controller 24 typically encodes thesignals 34 from an analog format to a digital format. Preferably, thedigital format is an MP3 format. However, the digital format may vary,as the invention requires. Then, the sequence proceeds to step 58.

In step 58, the controller 24 typically actuates the recorder 28 tobegin recording the preferred plurality of audio signals 34. Therecorder 28 stores the preferred plurality of audio signals 34 onto anelectronic medium 30. Then, the sequence proceeds to step 64.

However, if in step 54, the controller determines that the request for atime-delay is not the first of such request since power up of thesystem, then the sequence proceeds to step 60. In step 58, thecontroller 24 actuates the VESS 42 to stop acoustically playing thepreferred plurality of audio signals 34 at a halting point. Meanwhile,as the VESS 42 stops acoustically playing the signals 34, the controller24 simultaneously continues to encode the signals 30 according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention. As in step 56, thecontroller 24 typically encodes the signals 18 from an analog format toa digital format. Preferably, the digital format is an MP3 format. Then,the sequence proceeds to step 62.

In step 62, the controller 24 continues to actuate the recorder 28 torecord the preferred plurality of audio signals 34. As in step 58, therecorder 28 stores the preferred plurality of audio signals 34 onto anelectronic medium 30. Then, the sequence proceeds to step 64.

In step 64, the controller 24 determines whether the user has requesteda continuation in the acoustical transmission of the preferred pluralityof audio signals 34. A person of ordinary skill in the art wouldunderstand that there are various ways of actuating such a request, asdemonstrated in step 52. The user may selectively request thecontinuation after an arbitrary period of time has passed since haltingthe acoustical transmission.

If the controller 24 determines that the user has not requested acontinuation of the acoustical transmission within the automotivevehicle 12, then the sequence repeats step 64. However, if thecontroller 24 determines that the user has requested the continuation,then the sequence proceeds to step 66.

In step 66, the controller 24 preferably decodes the preferred pluralityof audio signals 34 starting at the halting point. The controllertypically decodes the signals 34 from a digital format to an analogformat. The preferred plurality of audio signals 34 is then transmittedfrom the controller 24 to the VESS 42 for the next operation in step 68.

In step 68, the VESS 42 acoustically plays the preferred plurality ofaudio signals 34. As mentioned in step 48, a component of the VESS 42,typically the speakers, receives the signals 34 and acoustically playsthe signals 34 for the user to hear. Further, as the VESS 42 resumesacoustically playing the signals 34, the controller 24 simultaneouslycontinues to encode the signals 34 according to the preferred embodimentof the present invention. As in step 54, the controller 24 typicallyencodes the signals 34 from an analog format to a digital format.Preferably, the digital format is an MP3 format. Then, the sequenceproceeds to step 70.

In step 70, the controller 24 continues to actuate the recorder 28 torecord the preferred plurality of audio signals 34. As in step 58, therecorder 28 stores the preferred plurality of audio signals 34 onto anelectronic medium 30. Then, the sequence returns to step 46.

Thus, a method of time-delaying an acoustical transmission of apreferred plurality of audio signals 34 in an automotive vehicle 12 isprovided. Accordingly, a user may selectively pause and resume theacoustical transmission of a preferred plurality of audio signals 34 asthe signals 34 are simultaneously being received by the controller 24.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a flow chart depicts a method of providing arecommended plurality of audio signals within an automotive vehicleaccording to one embodiment of the present invention. In operation, themethod of the present invention is initiated at step 72 and thenimmediately proceeds to step 74. In step 74, a controller 24 receives aplurality of audio signals 18 from an audio input 20. For example, thecontroller 24 may receive radio broadcast signals from a radio antennaand a radio tuner associated with the automotive vehicle 12. Then, thesequence continues to step 76.

In step 76, the controller 24 receives a plurality of data 16 from thedata input 22. In a preferred embodiment, the data input 22 receives theplurality of data 16 from a central server 14 that processes theplurality of data 16. Typically, the plurality of data 16 comprises atleast one of a program description, a program schedule, arecommendation, and a preference vector associated with the plurality ofaudio signals 18. Elements of the preference vector may include relativeweightings of different audio types. Alternatively, the controller 24can store, on the electronic medium 30, multiple preference vectors fordifferent users. For example, a program description may classify anaudio program by at least one of a genre, a style, an artist, a songtitle, and an album. Examples of genre typically include, but are notlimited to, music, traffic news, international news, financial news,controversial talk, and comedy programs. The operation then proceeds tostep 78.

In one embodiment of the invention, the plurality of audio signals 18and the corresponding plurality of data 16 may be received by thecontroller 24 if the user selects the specific frequency broadcastingthe audio signals 18 and data 16. In an alternative embodiment, theaudio signals 18 and the data 16 are received from various sources at asingle time without actuation by the user.

In step 78, the controller determines whether the VESS 42 has beenpowered up. If the VESS 42 is not powered up, then the sequenceimmediately proceeds to step 86. If, however, the VESS 42 is powered up,then the sequence continues to step 80.

In step 80, the user selects a preferred plurality of audio signals 34of the plurality of audio signals 18 received by the audio input 20. Thepreferred plurality of audio signals 34 composes an audio programlistened to by the user for a predetermined minimum time period. Forexample, if the VESS 42 is powered up, this step may be accomplishedwhen the user selects a frequency on a radio tuner and listens to afinancial news broadcast for a minimum of two minutes. Further, the usermay also employ the user interface 32 to input into the controller 24 amanual feedback 38 that describes the type of audio programs he wouldlike to hear. These examples are only a couple of the many differentways the user may choose a desired audio program. The sequence thencontinues onto step 82.

In step 82, the controller 24 detects the preferred plurality of data 36and the manual feedback 38, each describing characteristics of an audioprogram the controller 24 may record. For example, according to step 78the user may be listening to a financial news broadcast on a particularradio station. Then, pursuant to step 80, the controller 24 detects thedata 36 identifying the financial news broadcast. The data 36 mayinclude the time of the broadcast, the frequency of the broadcast, and adescription of the genre or style of the broadcast. Of course, variousother ways of identifying a desired program may be used. Then, thesequence proceeds to step 84.

In step 84, the controller 24 uses the preferred plurality of data 36and the manual feedback 38 to format a user profile. For example, theuser profile may include the particular genres or styles of audioprograms that the user listens to along with the frequency in which helistens to these programs. Further, the user profile may also includethe artist names, song titles, and other descriptions of the audioprograms he wishes to hear. Then, the sequence proceeds to step 86.

In step 86, it is determined whether the plurality of data 16 iscongruent to the user profile, with the user profile being compiled fromthe audio programs listened to by the user and the manual feedbackinputted into the system by the user.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, step 86 isaccomplished by the controller 24 within the automotive vehicle 12. Forexample, a controller determines that a preference vector associatedwith a financial news broadcast is congruent to a user profile if theuser has in the past frequently listened to financial news on that VESS42. Also, the controller 24 may determine the program descriptionassociated with a financial news broadcast is congruent to a userprofile if the user selected such a program by inputting a properidentification in the manual feedback 38. On the other hand, a pluralityof a data 16 associated with a financial broadcast would not becongruent to a user profile if the user has never listened to afinancial news broadcast on the VESS 42 or has never selected such aprogram through the user interface 32. Obviously, these are only a fewexamples of carrying out this step of the invention.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, step 86 isperformed by the central server 14. The central server 14 preferablyemploys a recommender system based on collaborative filtering. As oneskilled in the art would understand, a collaborative filtering algorithmis a standard method of generating recommendations. Pursuant to thisembodiment, the controller 24 typically uses the data input 22 totransmit the user profile to the central server 14. The central server14 then searches its database for user profiles of neighbors. Neighborsare other individuals that have preferences in audio programs similar tothose of the user. The central server typically searches for mismatchesbetween the neighboring profiles and the user profile. Subsequently, thecentral server flags data 16 associated with these mismatched audioprograms as recommendations for the user and then transmits theserecommendations to the controller 24.

The controller 24 receives the recommendation and begins to record upondetecting a recording signal. The recommendation may take the form of atleast one of an artist name, song title, program description, andprogram schedule. The recording signal typically is at least one of aplurality of data 16 and a plurality of audio signals 18 that matchesthe recommendation. For example, if a neighbor frequently listens tocontroversial talk broadcasts and the user never has, a recommendationmay indicate that the user may also appreciate controversial talkbroadcasts. The controller 24 may receive a plurality of data 16specifying broadcast schedules of various controversial talk broadcastson several different frequencies. Accordingly, the time of the broadcastis the recording signal. Upon reaching the time of broadcast of thecontroversial talk program, the controller selects the correspondingfrequency and prepares to record for the scheduled period. Anotherexample employs the plurality of audio signals 18 as the recordingsignal. For instance, the user may have inputted manual feedback 38 intothe controller 24 commanding the recorder to record traffic reports. Thecontroller 24 may employ voice recognition software to detect the word“traffic” and begin recording for a predetermined time period upondetecting the word. These examples only illustrate typical methods ofcarrying out step 86.

If, in step 86, the controller 24 determines that the plurality of datais not congruent to the user profile, then the sequence returns to step74.

However, if the controller 24 determines that the plurality of data 16is congruent to the user profile, then the sequence proceeds to step 88.In step 88, the controller 24 encodes a recommended plurality of audiosignals 40 associated with the plurality of data 16 congruent to theuser profile. The controller 24 usually encodes the recommendedplurality of audio signals 18 from an analog format to a digital format.Preferably, the digital format is an MP3 format; however, it may beotherwise as the invention requires. Further, the controller 24 actuatesthe recorder 28 to record the recommended plurality of audio signals 40onto the electronic medium 30. Then, the sequence proceeds to step 90.

In step 90, the controller 24 provides the user with access to therecommended plurality of audio signals 40. For example, the controller24 may employ the user interface 32 to inform the user that arecommended plurality of audio signals 40 is available to him. The usermay acoustically play the recommended plurality of audio signals 40 byactuating the controller 24 to do so. Upon actuation, the controller 24retrieves the recommended plurality of audio signals 40 from theelectronic medium 30 and preferably decodes the recommended plurality ofaudio signals 40 from a digital to an analog format. Then, thecontroller 24 transmits the recommended plurality of audio signals 40 tothe VESS 42 for acoustical transmission.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, numerous variations and alternate embodiments will occurto those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that theinvention be limited only in terms of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of recording a plurality of audiosignals associated with an entertainment sound system of an automotivevehicle, the method comprising the steps of: providing an audio inputassociated with the automotive vehicle; transmitting the plurality ofaudio signals from said audio input to a controller within theautomotive vehicle; acoustically playing a preferred plurality of audiosignals on the entertainment sound system; actuating a recorder torecord said preferred plurality of audio signals onto an electronicmedium within said vehicle; recording said preferred plurality of audiosignals for a recording time period onto said electronic medium withinsaid vehicle; halting an acoustical play of said preferred plurality ofaudio signals received from said audio input at a halting point; andresuming said acoustical play from said halting point simultaneously asthe plurality of audio signals continues being recorded, resuming saidacoustical play from said electronic medium within said vehicle.
 2. Themethod as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of recording saidpreferred plurality of audio signals comprises: encoding said preferredplurality of audio signals to a digital format, said digital formatbeing at least one of an MP3 format or an MPEG format.
 3. The method asrecited in claim 1 wherein said recording time period is selectivelydetermined by a user.
 4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein saidrecording time period is a predetermined time period.
 5. The method asrecited in claim 1 wherein said step of actuating a recorder to recordsaid preferred plurality of audio signals comprises: designating aprogrammable recording signal, said programmable recording signal beingat least one of a selectively chosen time, a selectively chosen word anda selectively chosen phrase.
 6. The method as recited in claim 1 whereinsaid step of actuating a recorder to record said preferred plurality ofaudio signals comprises: detecting a programmable recording signalwithin said preferred plurality of audio signals, said programmablerecording signal being at least one of a selectively chosen word and aselectively chosen phrase.
 7. The method as recited in claim 1 whereinthe step of resuming said acoustical play of said preferred plurality ofaudio signals from said electronic medium comprises: decoding saidpreferred plurality of audio signals.
 8. The method as recited in claim1 further comprising the steps of: providing a central server forgenerating a plurality of data associated with the plurality of audiosignals; providing a data input associated with the automotive vehicle;transmitting a plurality of data from said central server to saidcontroller within the automotive vehicle through said data input, saidplurality of data being at least one of a program schedule, a programdescription, a recommendation, and a preference vector associated withthe plurality of audio signals; acoustically playing said preferredplurality of audio signals on the entertainment sound system, saidpreferred plurality of audio signals received from said audio input;recording a preferred plurality of data of said preferred plurality ofaudio signals, recording said preferred plurality of data onto a userprofile stored on an electronic medium; and recording a recommendedplurality of audio signals onto said electronic medium, said recommendedplurality of audio signals having a preference vector congruent to saiduser profile.
 9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein saidcontroller receives said plurality of data from said central serverthrough said data input.
 10. The method as recited in claim 8 whereinsaid controller compiles said user profile on said electronic medium,said user profile being derived from a preferred plurality of data ofsaid preferred plurality of audio signals acoustically played within theautomotive vehicle.
 11. The method as recited in claim 8 furthercomprising the step of recording said recommended plurality of audiosignals, said recommended plurality of audio signals having saidpreference vector congruent to said user profile.
 12. The method asrecited in claim 8 wherein said user profile is stored on saidelectronic medium within the automobile.
 13. The method as recited inclaim 8 further comprising the step of transmitting said preferredplurality of data to said central server for generating at least one ofsaid user profile and said recommended plurality of audio signals.
 14. Apersonal audio recording system associated with an automotive vehicle,the personal audio recording system comprising: an audio input forsupplying a plurality of audio signals, said audio input associated withthe automotive vehicle; a controller for receiving said plurality ofaudio signals, said controller selectively transmitting a preferredplurality of audio signals received from said audio input, saidcontroller selectively encoding said preferred plurality of audiosignals, said controller selectively actuating a recorder to record saidpreferred plurality of audio signals onto an electronic medium, saidcontroller selectively decoding said preferred plurality of audiosignals stored on said electronic medium, said controller selectivelytransmitting said preferred plurality of audio signals from saidelectronic medium simultaneously as said recorder records said preferredplurality of audio signals; and an entertainment sound system receivingsaid preferred plurality of audio signals from said controller, saidentertainment sound system acoustically playing said preferred pluralityof audio signals, said entertainment sound system disposed within theautomotive vehicle.
 15. The personal audio recording system as recitedin claim 14 wherein said controller receives a plurality of data fromsaid data input, said plurality of data being at least one of a programschedule, a program description, a recommendation, and a preferencevector associated with the automotive vehicle.
 16. The personal audiorecording system as recited in claim 14 wherein said controller actuatessaid recorder to record a preferred plurality of data of said preferredplurality of audio signals, said recorder records said preferredplurality of data onto a user profile stored on said electronic medium.17. The personal audio recording system as recited in claim 16 whereinsaid user profile is stored on said electronic medium within theautomotive vehicle.
 18. The personal audio recording system as recitedin claim 16 further comprising the step of transmitting said preferredplurality of data to said central server for generating at least one ofsaid user profile and said recommended plurality of audio signals. 19.The personal audio recording system as recited in claim 16 wherein saidcontroller actuate said recorder to record said preferred plurality ofaudio signals for a recording time period upon detecting a programmablerecording signal, said programmable recording signal being at least oneof a selectively chosen time, a selectively chosen word, and aselectively chosen phrase.
 20. The personal audio recording system asrecited in claim 1 wherein the step of resuming said acoustical play ofsaid preferred plurality of audio signals from said electronic mediumcomprises: decoding said preferred plurality of audio signals.